Crushed sand production meets growing demand

Metso Oyj has identified a growing global demand for crushed sand, driven by the depletion of natural sand reserves and tightening environmental regulations. The company is investigating how aggregate producers can capitalize on this trend by initiating crushed sand production.

Crushed sand can substitute natural sand in various applications, including concrete and asphalt. Rolands Cepuritis, who researches the use of crushed sand in concrete production, states that carefully produced crushed sand can achieve greater consistency than natural sand. This consistency can enhance concrete strength with the same amount of cement, potentially reducing production costs.

In many countries, the use of natural sand is restricted by law or completely prohibited. For instance, Japan bans its use, and Sweden mandates the use of crushed sand whenever feasible. While illegal sand extraction poses a problem in some developing nations, countries like India are facilitating licensing for crushed sand production.

Metso's strategic interest in crushed sand aligns with the industry's need to meet construction demands sustainably. As natural sand sources diminish, manufactured sand production becomes crucial for the global construction material supply chain. Metso provides aggregate processing and optimization solutions to support this shift.